Cut-out switch



(No Model.)

W. B. CLEVELAND. GUT-OUT SWITCH.

No. 478,689. Patented July 12, 1892.

WITNESSES: JNV NTOK.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM B. CLEVELAND, OF GENEVA, OHIO.

CUT-OUT SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,689, dated July 12,1892.

Application filed September 21, 1891. Serial No. 406.413. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. CLEVELAND, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Geneva, county of Ashtabula, and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-OutSwitches and Fuses, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

The objects of my invention are to provide a combined cut-out switch andfuse, to provide such a device with a detachable switchlever, and toprovide improved means for preventing the flash from the fuse frominjuring the switch-arm.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailone mechanical form embodying the invention, such detail constructionbeing but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a plan view of one form ofmy improved combined cut-out switch and fuse; Fig. II, a side view ofthe same; Fig. III, a plan view of another form of the device, and Fig.IV a side view of the switch and fuse-lever.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates a base of a suitablenon-conducting, and preferably non-combustible, material, such as slateor soapstone. Split contacts B and B, having sockets b for thecircuit-wires C, are secured upon said base, the sockets being providedwith suitable binding-screws b for securing the wires in the sockets.The contacts 13 at one end of the base have ears B projecting from them,and said ears have pivots b projecting from them and serving topivotally and detachably connect the switch-levers D. Said switch-levershave non-conducting middle ortions D and contact ortions d and d,

which may engage the split contacts. One (1 of the contact portions hasan eye (1 which may fit and turn upon the pivot 19 of the stationarycontact, the eye being capable of being slipped upon and off from itspivot. The other contact d of the switch-lever has an insulating-handled for manipulating it. A fuse E, composed of one or more wires, issecured at its ends to the contacts of the lever, so as to electricallyconnect said contacts, and said fuse is made of a metal fusible on thepassage of a current of greater force than the ampere capacity of theinstrument or device connected to the circuit by the switch. In Figs. Iand II the fuse is illustrated as clamped at its ends by binding screwsf, passing through the ends of stirrups F, which serve, also, to retainthe contacts upon the ends of the non-conducting middle of theswitch-lever, and the fuse is illustrated as supported away from contactwith the lever by means of a prop c, which will prevent the flash fromthe fuse from injuring the lever. In Figs. III and IV the fuse is simplyclamped to the contacts by binding-screws f.

The eye (1 at the inner end of the switchlever illustrated in Figs. IIIand IV is open at one side, so that the lever may be detached by drawingit off from. the pivot by a longitudinal movement.

The switch is operative as a common cut= out switch, the currentspassing through the contacts and the fuse; but whenever a current of adangerous power passes through the switch the fuse will melt and cut outthe apparatus connected through the switch. As the switch-lever isdetachable, it may be opened and pulled off from its pivot, so that anew fuse may be secured in place without danger to the person performingthis work of accidentally forming a contact, as would be liable tohappen in apparatus where the fuse cannot be replaced excepting upon theconnected lever. In apparatus of simple construction, espe cially suchas illustrated in Figs. III and IV, supplemental switch-levers withfuses in place may bekept ready to be inserted in case a fuse shouldmelt.

The prop will keep the fuse sufficiently far off from the insulatingportion to prevent the flash from injuring the same, and the fused metalof the fuse will be prevented from dropping down upon or adhering to theinsulating middle of the switch-lever, and thus, perhaps, form aconducting-body between the contacts by being supported away from thelever by the prop e. (Illustrated in Figs. I and II.)

Other modes of applying the principle of 2. The combinationof stationarycontacts, I 5 a pivot projecting from one of said contacts, a leverprovided with registering contacts and having an eye projecting from theend of one of said contacts and detachably pivoted upon said pivot, anda fuse connected to the lever-- contacts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing to be my invention I havehereunto set my hand this 14th day of September, A. D. 189i.

W'M. B. CLEVELAND.

Witnesses:

WM. SEOHER, M. H. TRUMAN.

